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Preface
environment. Our culture and the nature of our islands are intertwined like threads of a fishing net. In Chuuk, the wellbeing of the environment, culture, and people are inseparable. As our children grow up observing the natural world around them, it is vital that they learn about the features that are unique to Chuuk. This will encourage them to respect, appreciate, and regard the islands environment as part of their own unique heritage and, therefore, feel a responsibility to protect it.
Table of contents
Introduction About Chuuk Map of Chuuk Lagoon Map of Outer Islands What is fauna? What is flora? What are native species? What are invasive species? What are endangered species? What is extinction? What are endemic species? >> FLORA (PLANTS) >> FAUNA (ANIMALS) >> HABITATS (PLACES) Conclusion Glossary 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 25 39 46 47
Introduction
Chuuk State is one of the four states of the Federated States of The islands of Chuuk are located far from the other Pacific
Micronesia. Our islands are small but are important to the whole world because of their rich natural heritage.
Islands and even farther away from larger landmasses. The closest continents are Asia and Australia each well over 1,000 miles away. As a result, few plants and animals have been able to get to Chuuk on their own. However, those that somehow have managed to fly or float over to Chuuk have remained living on our islands. Over long periods of time, some of these plants and animals evolved, no longer resembling the ancestors from which they came. In time, some eventually developed into new species of plants and animals that are indigenous to Chuuk not existing anywhere else on Earth. They are now found only on Chuuk, so it is important that we take care of them.
This book is about those plants and animals. Lets learn which
ones they are and how to recognize them!
About Chuuk
The islands of Chuuk are in the western part of the Pacific Chuuk Lagoon is an area of the ocean surrounded by a
Ocean, in the region known as Micronesia. They include many islands of various kinds and sizes. The islands are divided into two groups: Chuuk Lagoon and Outer Islands.
large circular-shaped reef. This reef acts as a giant barrier that separates the lagoon waters within from the open ocean outside. Many relatively large islands are found within the lagoon. They are known as high islands, because they are tall and hilly and rise well above the sea level.
they do not have any land within their lagoons. Instead, they have only small, low, flat islets located on the reefs themselves. They are all sandy and rise just slightly above the sea level. They lack any hilly areas. These small islands, also known as atolls, are scattered across the very large ocean area to the northwest, northeast, southwest, and southeast of Chuuk Lagoon.
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What is flora?
living things able to use energy from the sun to grow. They use that energy and water, together with compounds that they obtain from air and soil, to grow roots, stems, leaves, and fruits. In turn, plants may become food for animals and people.
everywhere in the world. There are many kinds of plants. Some are found across wide and diverse areas, whereas others are very specialized and can live only in specific places. Different kinds of plants are known as species. Each species has only one scientific name, though it may have many local or common names.
include grasses, flowers, bushes, trees, and more. People have used plants in different ways for centuries. Some are important as food and medicine, and some are used as raw materials to build houses, canoes, and tools. Some plants are familiar, but some are quite rare. Some plants grow only on Chuuk and nowhere else.
What is fauna?
plants, which rely on the energy of the sun to survive, animals are living things that must obtain the energy they need by consuming food. Their food may be plants or other animals.
place are called native species. They arrived at that particular place on their own and were not originally brought there by people. There are hundreds of plant and animal species that are native to the islands of Chuuk. They have lived in Chuuk for a long time, well before the first people arrived.
did not arrive naturally to a particular place. Instead, people brought them. Any plant or animal that people brought to Chuuk from another place is not a native species.
that are native and those that are not native. Chuuk is the natural home of its native species. They belong here. Species that are not native came from somewhere else relatively recently and are not a natural part of our islands environment. Non-native species may eat native species, compete with them, or affect them in some other negative way.
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are introduced. This may have been done on purpose, because people thought that an animal or plant was attractive or useful. For example, pigs were brought to Chuuk because they are useful as food. However, some species may have arrived by accident. Rats most likely reached here by hiding in arriving boats.
very quickly, almost as if they are attacking a place. In such cases, we call them invasive species. They may cause major problems. They may eat or compete with native species for food or space. This problem is very serious on islands. Native species on islands are not used to the company of invasive species and may not know how to defend against them.
species. It is important to keep possibly invasive species away from Chuuk or identify them early and ensure that they are removed before they cause serious damage.
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become very rare. For example, sea turtles used to be much more common in the past. They are hunted around our islands and have become rare. When a species becomes rare, we call it an endangered species. Such species should be protected, or they will die out. In many countries, endangered species are under protection of the law and are known as protected species. It is illegal to kill them or harm them in any way. If hunting or destruction of habitat of an endangered species is not stopped, the species may disappear altogether. It may become extinct.
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What is extinction?
died across the entire world, that species undergoes extinction. This is an awful thing because a species that has become extinct can never return. It will never live again. Extinction is forever.
because of human activities such as hunting, pollution, and destruction of the natural environment. Many species that used to be found on various islands of Micronesia are already extinct. Our ancestors had them in their midst, but we will never see them. We should protect the native species we have in Chuuk and make sure that none of them become extinct.
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heritage. We should care for them to ensure that they are not harmed or have their survival threatened. If they were to go extinct in Chuuk, they would be extinct throughout the world. Because of this, we have a duty to give them special protection.
Chuuk. Most of them are species that live only in Chuuk State. A few may also be found on some other islands, but are still considered endemic to Chuuk, because the variety found here is sufficiently distinct from those found elsewhere. We should learn which plant and animal species are endemic to Chuuk, so that we can take care not to harm them. Endemic species are true treasures of our islands.
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Kisinomw is a tall tree that grows only in the upland forests of Weno,
Fefan, Tonoas, and Tol. It provides an important habitat for native birds, many of which like to nest in its canopy. People use kisinomw wood for construction of houses, canoe parts, and wooden fish traps.
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Tol island. People usually avoid it because it is poisonous, but birds use it as a place to rest and nest. Its leaves are oblong and lightcolored underneath. The paanaw trunk releases a resinous sap, which becomes black and hard when exposed to air.
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RS Schefflera kraemeri
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AW Ficus trukensis
and Polle. Similar trees are found on other islands in Micronesia. Au reaches thirty to fifty feet tall and has smooth, oval-shaped leaves. It has a unique entangled and intertwined trunk, but its branches are clean and without aerial roots. It produces orange fruits enjoyed by birds. People use au for local medicine and construction.
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reaching well over twenty feet. These palms are conspicuous in forests, on ridges, and on the hilltops of Tonoas, Weno, Udot, Tol, Fefan, and Uman. They are easily recognized by distinctive clusters of small flowers located below the tree crown. People use the kiniaw to weave sleeping mats, hats, and baskets, and also for parts used in house construction. These pretty and graceful palms, which contribute much to the beauty of our islands, can be seen on the uplands overlooking many parts of Chuuk.
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Wenngngt is a
relatively small tree that grows on Polle and Tol. It produces small whitish flowers and reddish fruits that are eaten by birds and bats, as well as people. This tree is also used for construction, canoe parts, fish traps, fuel wood, and medicine.
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Niifach is a beautiful
endemic plant found in the upland forests of Weno, Tonoas, Fefan, Udot, Tol, and Uman. It produces many long and narrow leaves, similar to a palm or pandanus tree. People collect the leaves of niifach to weave mats, fans, hats, handicrafts, and various parts used in house construction.
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This plant is a vine with many succulent leaves. The simple, oval24
shaped leaves are dark green on the upper surface and lighter colored below. Flowers are light in color. If broken, the stem releases yellow milky sap. Unlike most of our endemic plants, which grow in the upland forests, this vine prefers coastal areas. It is quite rare.
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composed of many segments and pairs of feet). It grows to over six inches long. It lives only in the forests of a few mountaintops in Chuuk. It inhabits well-shaded areas, mostly on forest floors and on tree trunks. It sprays a poisonous secretion as defense against predators. If the substance touches human skin, it causes a burning sensation. The affected area may itch and turn a reddish-brown color.
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insects with two pairs of large, transparent wings. They are fast and skilled flyers and important predators of other insects, upon which they feed. Dragonflies lay their eggs in bodies of fresh water. Eggs hatch into youngsters known as larvae, which live in freshwater habitats until they grow to become flying adults. There are many kinds of dragonflies found in Micronesia, but one small and fragile species is known only from the islands of Chuuk Lagoon.
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of fly with two wings, resembling a mosquito. One species is endemic to Chuuk. Adults feed by stinging people and animals and drinking their blood. They are very small so we often do not see them, but we may feel the itch after being bitten. Teng adults can fly, but their larvae are aquatic and live in flowing streams of fresh water.
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atoll in the Mortlock Islands. Like other geckos, it is nocturnal (active at night) and feeds on insects. This gecko is very similar to other geckos and non-specialists cannot tell them apart. However, scientists classify it as a distinct species, because they observed some unique characteristics under a microscope. There may be many other new species of animals waiting to be discovered somewhere in our islands.
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tail. Its English name is Caroline Islands Ground Dove. The adults have purplish-crimson wings and back, and black posteriors. Their breasts and heads are white, with a black crown at the top of the head. The juveniles are rusty-brown in color. Sirip live in native and agricultural forests at all elevations, as well as in coastal forests of small islets. They seem to prefer dense brush, especially thickets of hibiscus. Sirip feed on the ground and eat seeds, worms, and small snails.
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anywhere outside of Chuuk and is considered one of the symbols of our islands. It grows to about 8 inches long. The color of males and females differs significantly. The males have almost entirely white plumage with a black face and throat, while the females have entirely black plumage. They are usually found in upland native forests, but they may also be encountered in mangroves, coastal forests, tree plantations, and along steep ridges or cliffs. They nest in trees with dense foliage and protect their territory. Uwaw eat insects and lizards.
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subspecies of a bird known in English as the Oceanic Flycatcher. It can be found in forest or other habitats with many trees. Nimakr enjoys perching on trees, especially on vertical surfaces, and does not settle voluntarily on the ground. They have shallowly forked tails, black-brown backs and wings, and gray-brown underparts. This bird is mentioned in many traditional chants and serves as a metaphor for wisdom and enlightenment, as its chirpings at dawn are the first harbingers of each new day on Chuuk.
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and rarest birds found in Chuuk. Known in English as the Micronesian Imperial Pigeon, this beautiful bird lives in other parts of Micronesia as well, but the subspecies in Chuuk is unique. It used to live in various natural forest habitats, both in the lowlands (such as mangroves) and upland areas. Sadly, the number of mwur has been declining in Chuuk over the years and the species is now in danger of extinction. It is found only in the Faichuuk region, particularly deep inside the upland forest of Mount Winipwt.
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White-eye, Teardrop White-eye, Faichuuk White-eye, or Truk Whiteeye). This very little bird is critically endangered and is one of the rarest birds in the entire world! It lives only in one place: the summit of Mount Winipwt on Tol island. It hides deep in the natural forest more than 1,200 ft above sea level, yet occasionally wanders into peripheral parts of the forest where native trees are mixed with trees planted by people.
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all over Micronesia. Its English name is Micronesian Honeyeater. Members of this species that live on Chuuk, however, are notably larger than anywhere else; therefore, they form a different subspecies. They inhabit forests, mangroves, shrubs, grasslands, and even villages. Nikeitapar feed primarily on nectar from flowers (thus its English name), but they will also take insects and other small invertebrates for food. They are territorial and aggressive, defending their own territory from all other birds, including other members of the same species.
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Chuukese subspecies of an unusual bird known in English as the Caroline Swiftlet. It is rather small (4-5 inches), uniformly gray-black in color, with a shallowly forked tail. It is among the most commonly seen endemic birds in Chuuk, but people sometimes confuse it with small bats. It hides in forests and caves and under rocky ledges. It is usually observed only in the afternoon, when it flies out to skillfully catch small insects in mid-air at high speeds. This behavior gives it its local name, which translates literally as the bird that feeds on air.
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species of fruit bat found only in Chuuk Lagoon. Its home is the high upland forest, where it lives in colonies on the breadfruit and other large trees. At night, it flies all over the island and feeds on fruits. Bats, which have front limbs that are webbed and developed as wings, are the only mammals naturally capable of true and sustained flight. Many bats feed on flying insects, but some specialize in eating fruit. Bats that eat fruit are usually quite large and are known in English as fruit bats.
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species of fruit bat in Chuuk State. It is found only in the Mortlock Islands. The atolls where they live are very small and do not have many large trees. When people cut down big trees, bats loose places to live. The loss of their habitat in the Mortlock Islands has caused this fruit bat to become very rare. It is now a critically endangered species. Fruit bats are important because they pollinate and disperse the seeds of wild and domestic plants. Therefore, they have both ecological and economic roles in our islands.
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TERRESTRIAL HABITATS
species adapt to live in a particular kind of place. The suitable home for a particular organism is called a habitat. Different organisms need different habitats in order to survive. For example, a bird lives in a forest, but a fish lives in the lagoon.
habitats. They include all the different kinds of natural places we see on our islands. Terrestrial habitats in Chuuk include forests (wennap), grassy areas (maasies), gardens (tnnipi), reef islands (t), and other areas. It is important that each of these habitats continues to exist in the future; otherwise organisms that live there will no longer have a home and will disappear from Chuuk. If a species is endemic to Chuuk and its habitat is destroyed, that species will go extinct. For example, if we cut down a large tree, we may destroy the habitat of our fruit bats. If we cut down many trees, we destroy the forest habitat of many plants and birds. Plants and animals can go extinct when their habitat is destroyed.
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FRESHWATER HABITATS
water. Such places are called freshwater habitats. They include the different kinds of places in which there is flowing or stagnant fresh water. Chuuk has only a few freshwater habitats. Larger islands have small streams flowing down hilly slopes. During the rainy season, the streams get larger. During drought, the streams become vary small. Many organisms, such as freshwater fish, shrimp, and insects, live in the streams and cannot survive without them. Other very important freshwater habitats on our islands are taro patches (pwn). Taro grows well in damp places, so taro patches usually have some fresh water in them. Some organisms, especially small fish and invertebrates, live in taro patches. People also depend on taro patches as a source of food.
ocean of salty water. There is not a lot of fresh water in Chuuk. The few freshwater habitats that we do have must be kept clean and healthy. Freshwater organisms need proper habitats. And of course, people cannot survive without enough clean fresh water!
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MARINE HABITATS
different habitats. Habitats found in the ocean are called marine habitats. In Chuuk, marine habitats include coastal areas, such as mangroves (chia) and seagrass beds, the lagoon (nmw), and coral reefs (ooch), as well as the deep ocean beyond our lagoon.
pollute our land and rivers, chemicals and waste are eventually washed by rainwater into coastal waters. They may poison organisms living there. When boats put down anchors, they often break coral. This destroys the homes of sea animals and damages the overall reef habitat. Some truly bad and shameless people throw dynamite onto our reefs to catch fish easily. Doing so kills thousands of creatures small and large and turns wide areas of our marine habitats into an underwater wasteland. We must stop damage and abuse of habitats around our islands, because plants and animals need homes to live and we need plants and animals for our own survival. Damage that we inflict upon the natural habitats of Chuuk is therefore damage we inflict upon ourselves.
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Conclusion
various habitats throughout the world. Chuuk is very fortunate to have several plant and animal species that do not occur anywhere else on Earth. They are known as endemic species. The reason that Chuuk has many endemic species is because our islands are far from other places. Some plants and animals, which arrived here in the distant past, have been isolated from their relatives elsewhere for a very long time, and have developed new characteristics enabling them to adapt to our local conditions. Eventually, they have evolved into new species, which now exist ONLY ON CHUUK.
Chuuk, they would become extinct across the entire world. For that reason, each should be truly special to us, and we should extend great care to ensure that its survival is not put at risk. This is especially important considering that people are rapidly changing the islands environments to suit their lifestyles, and, as a result, many plant and animal habitats are being threatened.
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Glossary
adapt adult aerial root ancestors aquatic canopy cluster colony conspicuous domestic ecological elongated endangered environment extinct extinction fauna fern flora foliage heritage high island indigenous introduced invasive invertebrate juvenile landmass change to become more successful in a new environment fully-grown and developed animal or person roots that are located above the ground organisms that gave rise to subsequent, newer organisms found in water branches and leaves of trees group group of individual organisms living together as one easily visible, standing out from others plant or animal that is regularly kept by people relationships between living things and environment unusually long compared to wide species facing a serious risk of extinction surroundings and conditions in which a species lives no longer in existence complete disappearance of a plant or animal species animals in general or in a particular area plant with feather-like leaves; it produces no seeds plants in general or in a particular area plant leaves considered collectively (as a group) valued things and ideas passed down from older generations hilly or mountainous island rising well above sea level occurring naturally in a particular place or area non-indigenous; brought by people to a particular place introduced species that is harmful to local environment an animal that does not have a backbone (e.g., insect, worm) young and not yet mature animal or person large body of land, usually bigger than an island
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larvae leaflet limbs lowland mammal marine microscope moss native nocturnal oblong organism plumage poisonous pollinate posterior predator resinous sap secretion scientific name species stagnant stem subspecies succulent terrestrial tree crown upland vertebrate vine
insects babies with forms very different from adults small leaf that, together with others, forms a larger leaf arms or legs of an animal areas of low elevation, usually located near the coast an animal that has hair or fur and gives milk to its young found in the ocean instrument used for viewing very small objects small plant that grows in form of mats in humid places species that are indigenous to a place, not introduced organisms that are usually active at nighttime shaped as an oval an individual living thing, a life form (plant, animal) bird feathers considered collectively (as a group) plant or animal that produces a substance harmful to others transfer pollen from one flower to another rear end of an animal animal that naturally preys (feeds) on others consistency of a sticky, gooey substance natural fluid found within a plant natural substance discharged from a plant or animal unique and international name of a plant or animal species distinct kind of a plant or animal sluggish or not moving, usually pertaining to water main body of a plant that supports branches, leaves, etc. sufficiently distinct group of organisms within a species juicy, often pertaining to leaves that contain a lot of water found on land branches and leaves of a tree areas of high elevation, usually on hills and mountains an animal that has a backbone (e.g., fish or bird) a climbing plant that has a long, slender stem
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This book presents plants and animals that are found only in Chuuk State.
l Island Research & Education Initiative (IREI), l Chuuk State Department of Agriculture (DOA), and l Chuuk Conservation Society (CSS)
Innocente Penno, Director, Chuuk DOA Sleeper Sared, Invasive plant species and forest health coordinator, Chuuk DOA Danko Taboroi, Director, IREI Jan Nicole Pruden and John C. Pruden, Illustrators, IREI Mary Rose Nakayama, Chuuk Coordinator, IREI Curtis Graham, Marine Program Manager, CCS Emerson Odango, Linguist, IREI Julian Sivas, Chief of Forestry, Chuuk DOA Basiente Atan, Urban community forestry coordinator, Chuuk DOA Sabrino Robert, Officer In Charge, Chuuk Plant and Animal Quarantine akalin Nei and Mark Cartwright, Copyeditting volunteers This book was created as a service to the people of Chuuk. It is not to be sold.
It aims to teach students and the public how to recognize these important organisms on their own islands, as well as to introduce the concepts of endemic and endangered species, extinction, habitat loss, and other topics in ecology and conservation. The book is product of collaboration between:
Published by
distributed by
www.islandresearch.org
Chuuk DOA